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Thurso Cinema in Caithness is back in action

Thurso's £1.5m cinema, which shut just eight years after it was built, re-opens to the public today.

The Thurso Cinema, Scotland's most northerly cinema, re-opens today saving local residents a 109-mile journey to Inverness to enjoy the cinematic experience.

The Thurso Cinema (on the site of the former All Star Factory) in Thurso, Caithness, has two purpose built auditoria with 250 seats in total.

The plan is to install the latest digital technology and 3D equipment over the next few months so that by Christmas customers will be able to enjoy live opera, ballet, cultural and sporting events in 2D and 3D at their local cinema. New owner Rob Arthur also hopes to convert the existing bowling alley from the current 2 screens to 5 at a future date.

Mr Arthur said: "I am absolutely delighted that the cinema is back in action again. The local community have been incredibly supportive from the outset and we really couldn't have made this happen without their help. Embracing social media channels particularly Facebook has meant that we have been able to communicate with people instantly and effectively and keep everyone up to date with the cinema's progress. Regular posts have seen the number of views matching the total population of Caithness - this shows just how engaged and excited local residents are about the re-opening of their cinema. We want it to become a place at the heart of the community."

Roy Kirk, HIE area manager, said: "The All Star Factory was an extremely important part of the community of Caithness and Sutherland, and it has left a real gap since its closure. We are delighted to see this project come to fruition with the cinema re-opening today and look forward to supporting its development in the future."

The cinema opens just in time for the summer holidays. Parents will be able to enjoy summer blockbusters like 'Ice Age 4' and Disney•Pixar's 'Brave' for great value, and keep their kids occupied too. Other films showing over the next fortnight include 'The Dark Knight Rises' which has already broken worldwide box office records with one of the most successful openings for a non-3D movie of all time. In the UK alone Dark Knight Rises has achieved the biggest 3-day opening of 2012 grossing £14.4m - desire to see this movie is at fever pitch! Other must-see edge of your seat thrillers opening at The Thurso cinema include American horror flick 'Chernobyl Diaries' and Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus', a prequel to the 1979 science fiction horror classic 'Alien'.

Ticket prices are set at an affordable level for all to ensure great value; this includes a special new Family Ticket priced at £19.80 for two adults and two children or one adult and three children. Adult and child/concessionary tickets can be purchased for £5.95 and £4.95 respectively.